It is not what you would expect to see in an aged care home, but carers at this regional Queensland facility are trying something a little different. They are using creative activities to form new brain pathways for those living with dementia- and the facility is already seeing good results.
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00:00 Fun with gel blasters at this aged care home.
00:06 It's playtime with a purpose.
00:08 You just play around like a lot of kids, which we are I suppose.
00:14 Painting and dancing are some of the activities at this centre at Childers in Queensland's
00:18 Wide Bay, designed to improve the quality of life for residents with dementia.
00:23 To make it as fun as possible, as lively as possible, without wearing everybody out, but
00:28 vibrancy is what we're after.
00:32 Seventy percent of residents have high level dementia.
00:35 The disease attacks the left side of the brain.
00:38 These activities stimulate the right side.
00:41 Their self esteem improves, their confidence improves, but also their willingness to engage
00:45 and be public.
00:46 If they're ashamed or they're embarrassed about their limitations, they'll just withdraw
00:51 further and further, and that's what we don't want.
00:53 In just 12 months, staff have seen residents improve their verbal communication and become
00:58 more social and calm.
01:00 One particular resident here was a recluse in her room.
01:02 She was a hermit.
01:03 She wouldn't leave her room, she took three suitcases.
01:06 If you went into her room, she would be aggressive.
01:09 She now is actively part of this.
01:11 Dementia Australia agrees that creativity is key.
01:14 It keeps them socially active, socially engaged, keeps their mind active, and we know the more
01:20 engaged and involved people living with dementia are, the better they are.
01:25 Particularly when it connects with them emotionally.
01:29 The centre plans to formally document its results to help others make similar changes.
01:34 I think we'll very adequately be able to demonstrate that it has worked, and it's a model that
01:39 can be put across other facilities.
01:41 Perhaps putting gel blasters on the schedule right around the country.
01:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]